Sleep-aide device

ABSTRACT

In one aspect, the invention is a sleep device. The sleep-aide device includes a soft housing adapted to be disposed over a user&#39;s head, a microphone positioned on the housing to receive an ambient sound signal, a suppression circuit that receives the ambient sound signal and produces a suppression sound signal, and a set of transducers, arranged in the soft housing, which receive the suppression sound signal. The suppression sound signal has a magnitude and phase to substantially cancel the ambient sound signal at the user&#39;s ear.  
     In another aspect, the sleep-aide device includes a microphone to receive an ambient sound signal, a suppression circuitry, which receives the ambient sound signal and transmits a suppression sound signal based on the ambient sound signal, and a transducer which receives the suppression sound signal, which has a magnitude and phase to substantially cancel the ambient sound signal at the user&#39;s ear. The sleep device also includes an earphone housing, which is attached to the ear when worn by a user, containing the microphone, the suppression circuitry and the transducer.

BACKGROUND

[0001] This invention relates to a sleep-aide device.

[0002] Getting a good night's sleep is important for a person's health.Studies have shown that people function better with uninterrupted sleep.Many things can cause a sleepless night. For example, an old mattress,caffeine, sleep apnea or poor health can contribute to sleeplessness.Another cause of sleeplessness is noise, such as snoring from a partner,aircraft, or automobile traffic. Other studies have shown that sleepingon one's side is an optimum sleep position.

[0003] Noise cancellation devices have existed for many years. Noisecanceling headphones include microphones, which receive external sounds;circuitry, which predicts a future signal and generates a signalopposite of the predicted future sound signal; and speakers, whichgenerate the opposite predicted signal. The construction of thesedevices include hard plastic housings for the speakers, microphones andcircuitry. Since the hard plastic housings include speakers, the housingis designed to be placed over the user's ear. Some of these devicesinclude ports for receiving audio signals.

SUMMARY

[0004] In one aspect, the invention is a sleep device. The sleep-aidedevice includes a soft housing adapted to be disposed over a user'shead, a microphone positioned on the housing to receive an ambient soundsignal, a suppression circuit that receives the ambient sound signal andproduces a suppression sound signal, and a set of transducers, arrangedin the soft housing, which receive the suppression sound signal. Thesuppression sound signal has a magnitude and phase to substantiallycancel the ambient sound signal at the user's ear.

[0005] In another aspect, the sleep-aide device includes a microphone toreceive an ambient sound signal, a suppression circuitry, which receivesthe ambient sound signal and transmits a suppression sound signal basedon the ambient sound signal, and a transducer which receives thesuppression sound signal, which has a magnitude and phase tosubstantially cancel the ambient sound signal at the user's ear. Thesleep device also includes an earphone housing, which is attached to theear when worn by a user, containing the microphone, the suppressioncircuitry and the transducer.

[0006] In still another aspect, the invention is a method of aidingsleep. The method includes receiving an ambient signal from a microphonelocated in a soft housing, and transmitting a suppression signal to atransducer by using a suppression circuitry. The suppression signal isbased on the ambient signal received from the microphone and has amagnitude and phase to substantially cancel the ambient sound signal atthe user's ear.

[0007] The aspects above may have some or all of the followingadvantages. The sleep-aide device allows a user to sleep without ambientsounds such as snoring or traffic disturbing the wearer. The sleep-aidedevice allows the wearer to sleep on their ears without discomfort froma hard casing pushing into the ears. Thus, a wearer is not restricted tosleeping on their back as hard-cased noise cancellation devices forcethe wearer to do. In addition, there are no exterior wires on thesleep-aide device that are a choking hazard. The sleep-aide device alsoallows the user to listen to selected forms of sounds such as music or aradio broadcast clearly without exterior ambient sounds interfering.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a sleep-aide device in a bedroom environment.

[0009]FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the sleep-aide device.

[0010]FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of circuitry of the sleep-aidedevice.

[0011]FIG. 3C is a top view of a battery compartment.

[0012]FIG. 3A is flow chart depicting the functionality of thesleep-aide device circuitry.

[0013]FIG. 3B depicts the way form before a suppression circuit and awaveform after the suppression circuit.

[0014]FIG. 4 is another embodiment of a sleep-aide device.

[0015] FIGS. 5A-5B are another embodiment of a sleep-aide device.

DESCRIPTION

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 2C, a sleep-aide device 10 isworn on a head of a user 20 while sleeping in a bed 30. Sleep-aidedevice 10 neutralizes ambient sounds such as snoring from a partner 40so that the user may sleep without disturbance from these ambientsounds. Device 10 includes a housing 52; padding 54; a pair ofelectrical components 60, one for each ear of the user; and a batterycompartment 72, which is positioned on the top of housing 52. Housing 52is shaped similar to regular headphones. Each set of electricalcomponents 60 include transducers 86 that deliver cancellation sound toa user's ear. Electrical components 60 are nestled within padding 54 sothat when housing 52 is placed over the user's head, electricalcomponents 60 rest comfortably over the user's ear even when the user issleeping on the ear. Housing 52 is comprised of elastic materials toallow the user to place transducers 86 over the user's ears and hold thespeakers securely over the ears. Padding 54 is made from soft andelastic materials so that the padding cushions electrical components 60against the user's ear and prevents the hard casing from the electricalcomponents from causing discomfort on the ears of the user. Thus, theuser can sleep on their side or on their stomach while using sleep-aiddevice 10 whereas noise cancellation devices without the propercushioning forces the user to sleep on their backs.

[0017] Each set of electrical components 60 also includes a microphone82 and a suppression circuit 84. Wiring (not shown) within housing 52interconnects microphone 82 to suppression circuit 84, suppressioncircuit 84 to transducer 86, and batteries (not shown) to electricalcomponents 60. The batteries are housed in battery compartment 72.Battery compartment 72 has a positive terminal 76 and a negativeterminal 78. Positive terminal 76 and negative terminal 78 areelectrically connected to electrical components 60 by wires 80 a and 80b. Thus, all the wiring to sleep-aide device 10 is internal to housing52. During a typical night's sleep, a person changes positions every fewhours. By eliminating external wires, possible discomfort or disturbanceof sleep is eliminated from entanglement within the wires. Further,there is no opportunity for the user to have an external wire wraparound the user's neck and cause choking of the user.

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, microphone 82 receives an ambientsound signal 92. Microphone 82 is positioned such that the microphonecan receive ambient sounds that are present in the user's environment.Microphone 82 receives ambient sound signal 92 through an opening 74 inpadding 54. Ambient sound signal 92 can be a sound of a partner snoringor the sound of traffic. Suppression circuit 84 generates an inversesignal 94 of ambient signal 92. Inverse signal has substantially theopposite phase and the same magnitude as the ambient sound that reachesthe user's ears to substantially cancel ambient sound signal 92 at theuser's ears. Suppression circuit 84 includes an amplifier (not shown),to amplify the ambient sound signal. The inverse signal 94 istransmitted to transducer 86 for transmission to the user's ear. Inother embodiments, the amplifier is separate from suppression circuit 84and boosts inverse signal 94 to speakers 86. In other embodiments, thebatteries are co-located inside suppression circuit 84.

[0019] In other embodiments, sleep-aide device 10 includes a jack (notshown) connected to speaker 86. The jack allows sleep-aide device to beconnected to a compact disc (CD) player, a radio or any other externaldevice. In conjunction with the noise cancellation feature of sleep-aidedevice 10, the user can hear music, for example, without theinterference from airplanes or snoring. In addition, the user can listento the music while sleeping on their side or on their stomach.

[0020] In still further embodiments, a receiver (not shown) is locatedwithin electrical components 60 and connected to transducer 86. Thereceiver receives wireless signals from an external device (not shown),such as CD player or a radio. Thus, the user has no external wires thatpose as a choking hazard during sleep while listening to music. In otherembodiments, housing 52 is a sleeping bonnet.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 4, in other embodiments, a sleep-aide device110 includes a microphone 182, a suppression circuit 184 and a speaker186 each of which are housed within a soft housing 152. Soft housing 152fits securely within an ear canal much like a hearing aid. Housing 152is made of soft elastic material to allow the user to sleep on the earwhen sleep-device 110 is placed within the ear canal without discomfortto the user. Suppression circuit 184 includes a battery cell (not shown)for providing sufficient power to drive the suppression circuit and sendsignals to speaker 186. In other embodiments, sleep-aide device 110includes a receiver (not shown) that receives wireless transmissionsfrom an exterior device (not shown) such as a CD player or a radio. Instill other embodiments, housing 152 can allow sleep-aide device 110 tobe attached over the ear.

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, sleep-aid device 110 are typicallyused alone, but may be used in pairs. For example, a string 172, witheach end attached to a sleep device 110 can be used to keep twosleep-aide devices 110 from separating from the other device. String 172has each end attached to a different sleep-aide device 110 and in use isworn in the back of the wearer's head. Other embodiments not describedherein are also within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sleep-aide device, comprising: a soft housingadapted to be disposed over a user's head; a microphone positioned onthe housing to receive an ambient sound signal; a suppression circuitthat receives the ambient sound signal and produces a suppression soundsignal; and a set of transducers arranged in the soft housing and whichreceive the suppression sound signal, the suppression sound signalhaving a magnitude and phase to substantially cancel the ambient soundsignal at a user's ear.
 2. The sleep-aide device of claim 1, furthercomprising: cushioning placed within the soft housing, the cushioningcorresponding to locations where the soft housing would contact the earsof a user.
 3. The sleep-aide device of claim 1, further comprising anamplifier for amplifying the suppression sound received from thesuppression circuit.
 4. The sleep-aide device of claim 1 wherein theambient sound signal is a snoring signal.
 5. The sleep-aide device ofclaim 1 wherein the ambient sound signal is a traffic noise signal. 6.The sleep-aide device of claim 1 wherein the suppressive sound signal isan inverted signal of a predicted sound signal.
 7. The sleep-aide deviceof claim 6 wherein the predicted sound signal is calculated based on theambient sound signal.
 8. The sleep-aide device of claim 1 wherein thehousing is a sleeping bonnet.
 9. The sleep aide device of claim 1wherein the housing are headphones.
 10. The sleep-aide device of claim1, further comprising: a battery compartment having terminals coupled towires that are disposed through the soft housing and connected to thesuppression circuit.
 11. The sleep-aide device of claim 1, furthercomprising: wiring disposed through the soft housing connecting thetransducer, the suppression circuit and the microphone.
 12. Thesleep-aide device of claim 1, further comprising: a receiver receivingsounds signals from an exterior transmitter, the receiver relaying theinformation to the transducer.
 13. A sleep-aide device, the devicescomprising: a microphone to receive an ambient sound signal; asuppression circuitry, the first suppression circuitry receiving theambient sound signal and transmitting a suppression sound signal basedon the ambient sound signal; a transducer which receives the suppressionsound signal, the suppression sound signal having a magnitude and phaseto substantially cancel the ambient sound signal at the user's ear; anda earphone housing attached to a first ear when worn by a user, theearphone housing containing the microphone, the suppression circuitryand the transducer.
 14. The sleep-aide device of claim 13 wherein theearphone housing holds the transducer within an ear canal of the firstear when worn by the user.
 15. The sleep-aide device of claim 13,further comprising an amplifier for amplifying the first suppressionsound signal received from the first suppression circuitry.
 16. Thesleep-aide device of claim 13 wherein the ambient sound signal is asnoring signal.
 17. The sleep-aide device of claim 13 wherein theambient sound signal is a traffic noise signal.
 18. The sleep-aidedevice of claim 13 wherein the suppression sound signal is an invertedsignal of a predicted sound signal.
 19. The sleep-aide device of claim18 wherein the predicted sound signal is calculated based on the ambientsound signal.
 20. The sleep-aide device of claim 13, further comprising:a member adaptable to fit on a user head, supporting at a first endthereof, the first sleep-aide device, and supporting at a second endthereof, a second sleep-aide device, the second sleep-aide devicecomprising: a second microphone to receive an ambient sound signal; asecond suppression circuitry, the second suppression circuitry receivingthe ambient sound signal and transmitting a second suppression soundsignal based on the ambient sound signal; a second transducer whichreceives the second suppression sound signal, the second suppressionsound signal having a magnitude and phase to substantially cancel theambient sound signal at the user's ear; and a second earphone housingattached to a second ear when worn by a user, the second earphonehousing containing the second microphone, the second suppression circuitand the second transducer.
 21. A method of aiding sleep comprising:receiving an ambient signal from a microphone located in a soft housing;and transmitting a suppression signal to a transducer by using asuppression circuitry, the suppression signal based on the ambientsignal received from the microphone and having a magnitude and phase tosubstantially cancel the ambient sound signal at the user's ear.
 22. Themethod of claim 21 wherein the soft housing includes cushioningcorresponding to locations where the housing would contact the ears of auser.
 23. The method of claim 21, further comprising: amplifying thefirst suppression signal received from the first suppression circuitry.24. The method of claim 21 wherein receiving the ambient sound signalcomprises receiving a snoring signal.
 25. The method of claim 21 whereinreceiving the ambient sound signal comprises receiving a traffic noisesignal.
 26. The method of claim 21 wherein transmitting the suppressionsignal comprises transmitting an inverted signal of a predicted soundsignal.
 27. The method of claim 26 wherein transmitting the invertedsignal of a predicted sound signal comprises calculating the predictedsound signal based on the ambient sound signal.
 28. The method of claim21 wherein placing the soft housing over the head comprises placing asleeping bonnet over the head.
 29. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising using a receiver to receive signals from an external device,the receiver electrically connected to the transducer.
 30. The method ofclaim 21, further comprising using the soft housing to hold wires withinthe housing, the wires connecting the transducer, the suppressioncircuitry and the microphone.
 31. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising using a transducer for receiving the suppression soundsignal.
 32. The method of claim 21 wherein the transducer, microphone,suppression circuit and suppression signal are first ones, with themethod, further comprising: receiving an ambient signal from a secondmicrophone located in the soft housing; and transmitting a secondsuppression signal to a second transducer by using a second suppressioncircuitry, the second suppression signal based on the ambient signalreceived from the second microphone and having a magnitude and phase tosubstantially cancel the ambient sound signal at the user's ear; placingthe first transducer and the second transducer over separate ears of theuser.